Three Questions With the Mayor: Town Hall Meeting, City Holiday and H.B. 176

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and discusses H.B. 176.

Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week?

Mayor Wilbanks: City Hall will be closed on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 for the Presidents’ Day holiday.

Dacula Patch: What is something Dacula residents need to know this week?

Mayor Wilbanks: Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA-10) will be holding a

Dacula Patch: In a post on the city website, you discuss H.B. 176. Why do citizens need to be concerned with this legislation?

Mayor Wilbanks: Please see the article on the Dacula web site to learn more about HB 176. You can read the bill in its entirety, see the comments of the Georgia Municipal Association and the comments of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia by following the links in that article. You can also read my reasons for opposing this bill. For clarity, here they are: The bill removes local control of zoning for cell tower locations. So the main question for our residents and neighbors is this, “Who do you want in control of allowing cell towers near (or in ) your neighborhood? Your neighbors? Or some official from Atlanta or a communications company? Do you want to have a say in how much your local government can charge a communications company for allowing a cell tower to be located on property owned by your city or your county (essentially by the taxpayers)? Would you rather have those rates determined at home or in Atlanta or in Canton? Do you believe that the best government is at the local level or not? Do you want local control over the height of a cell tower near your home? Do you want to make sure that the towers meet safety requirements and inspections schedules set by your local government? If you want any kind of local control over these issues, you will want to read this bill. I believe it adversely affects each of our residents and neighbors. If after reading the bill and studying the comments and making your own determination about the bill, you will want to contact your state representative and make your thoughts known about this bill.

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